The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-20
MR.. PoWDERLY,S VIEWS.

The Knights of Labor have never given
better evidence of their good sense and dis
cernment than in electing Mr.. Powderly
to the highest position in the order, and
there is no stronger proof that the order is
losing its head and falling prey to internal
discussions than in the assaults made on
him and the Vaccinations to drive him from
the position he holds. When the Knights
lose Mr.. Powderly they win lose a leader
of whom they ought to be proud. They
will never have another who understands
so well the true interests of laboring men in
respect Of their abolute rights and duties, and
the true relations of capital and labor. The
Journal has had occasion heretofore to ex-
press it's approval of some of Mr. Powderly's
utterances and it wishes to do 80 again.
In an interview of some length, published
yesterday, he touched upon two points wor-
thy of particular attention, viz: drunkenness
among workingmen and the right of an en-
ployer to employ and discharge whom he
pleases. On both points he expressed himself
with his usual frankness and unreserve. Mr..
Powderly is temperance man of the practi-
cal school No one sees more clearly and no
one has ever expressed more forcibly the ut
ter viciousness and ruinous tendency Of the
drinking habit among workingmen. OF
course any is fool to injure and degrade
himself and destroy his mental and physical
powers by indulgence in drink, but there are
different grades of fools. The rich man or
Of 1o;o be e
self in this way with comparative impunity,
or at least with comparatively harmless
results, but the workingman's bread and but
ter and those of his family are dependant on
his keeping control of all his powers and
faculties; Incorporate workingman is the
biggest of all fools. Mr.. Powderly sees this
and has expressed himself very strongly on
the subject. In his latest talk he referred
to the injury done the labor cause by drunk
en- workmen. He said:
"Drunkards impose upon US in the order.
They bring on trouble between employers and
honest workingnen. They go to work drunk,
are discharged, and, SOLDERING up, they appear
before their assemblies and present their
grievances. But the one side is heard, and
the complainant seems to be a much-abused
posters with usR Can we excuse men who
willfully neglect their duty as employees and as
willfully delude their brother workmen2 Yet
myself am called upon frequently to take
hand in the settlement of labor troubles at
tributed to this cause. Recently had occa-
sion to interfere in dispute Of large proper
stions, wherein the hands thought to sustain
one of their number who had been discharged.
He had represented himself badly treated
man, and had so worked upon the feelings of
h oil axUo hat fhavy bod 81
rifice of work and pay. What did he do to
cause discharged He went to the workshop
drunk. He hung his hat up in strange place,
and it fell down into tub of valuable liquid,
spelling it. Was that good case to make
fight ONT I think not"
Mr.. Powderly is right. 1t was not good
case to make fight on, yet scores of strikes
and fights between workingmen and employers
have been made on similar cases. The rules
and regulations of the Knights of Labor and
the different trades unions make it not only
possible but easy to bring on strike or a fight
in just such a case. A great many Knights
and members of the unions have the drinking
habit. Some are skillfu1 workmen when sober,
others never. No matter; the unskilled work
man, the bungler, the botch, the Blacksmith"
has the same rights knight, or, in the
trades unions that the best workman in the
land has. The union is his harbor of refuge.
Outside of it he would have little or no stand
ing, and could not get job; in it, he is an
integral part of powerful organization. If
he gets drunk, and Sights his work, neglects
his duty, insults his employer or causes loss
and injury to his business, his employer prob
ably dismisses him. He sobers up, broods
over his " wrong" takes his case before the
Knights or the union, argues it adroitly, gets
them to make common cause, and the RESULT is
a strike Mr.. Powderly, being sensible, self
respecting man, is against all such business as
that. He would make habitual drunkenness
a cause of disgrace and ostracism among work
ingmen, as it should be.
On another point Mr. Powderly expressed
himself with equal clearness. Being asked if
he conceded the right of an employer to en-
ploy and discharge whom he pleased, lie
said:
IL do. l know there are many in the order
who do not. This had been one of the knot
test questions we have had to contend with,
but it is now being universally admitted to
oe JuSC IL L. WAS al employer Il can sec now
/ would strive to make the most money out of
the work done by my employees. With my
present feeling toward workingmen, l would
do them injustice, but yet it would be
natural to desire to control the business and
make it pay"
The case could not be stated more clearly
or fairly. Few workingmen would dare 60
as far. The fact that Mr.. Powderly does
shows he has the courage of his convictions.
His views are sound in principle, logic and
practice. To deny the right of an employer
to employ or discharge whom he pleases, and
when and as he pleases. is to deny funda-
mental principle of personal liberty. Pre-
cin aIir 70 IL would be TO dAnY the rioht